Why get a personal injury attorney?

Have you been injured in an accident due to another person’s negligence? Are you wondering if you need legal counsel? While in some cases, it is possible to handle a claim on your own, in others, hiring a personal injury lawyer is the best way to ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries and other losses.

Is Someone Else to Blame for Your Injuries?

If you were injured by another party, they must be held responsible for your injuries. For example, if you were injured in a motor vehicle accident that was caused by a negligent driver, then you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit or claim against that party.

Did You Sustain a Severe Injury?

Depending on the type of accident, the injured party can sustain a variety of injuries, ranging from minor injuries that can heal over a matter of weeks to severe injuries that can require lifelong treatment. The types of injuries an accident victim sustains can impact the settlement amount. If you have sustained severe injuries, you may be looking at a very long road to recovery and ongoing medical treatment. A complex injury can often prevent the accident victim from taking legal action right away, however, with an attorney by your side, you can continue to receive medical attention as your lawyer handles all the aspects of your claim or lawsuit. They will also remain in close contact with all of your medical providers to ensure you receive the medical care you deserve and will carefully document your injuries to include the cost of treatment in your claim for compensation.

 

Are There Multiple Parties Potentially Responsible for Your Injuries?

In a personal injury lawsuit, there may be multiple parties responsible for your injuries. When multiple parties are involved, legal representation can be critical in pursuing compensation from each negligent party. For example, if you were involved in an accident involving a commercial truck, the trucking company, the company responsible for loading the truck’s cargo, and the truck driver may all have contributed to the accident, in which case, all parties should be held accountable.

In cases that involve more than one party, working with an attorney is crucial. Personal injury accident cases are often very complex and require an in-depth investigation. An attorney will have the skills, experience, and resources to conduct an investigation and explore all possible sources of compensation.

Do Your Injuries Require Ongoing Medical Treatment?

When you’re injured in an accident, an insurance company or the responsible party may try to offer you a fast cash settlement. When your injuries require ongoing medical treatment, accepting a fast settlement can be the worst thing you do. You may need medical treatment, including multiple surgeries, years down the line. A personal injury attorney will work with a wide variety of professionals, including private investigators, economists, and medical experts to determine what your ongoing medical needs will be and what those needs will cost. If you accept a settlement for your injuries, you will be unable to pursue a claim or lawsuit in the future, regardless of whether your injuries or health condition worsens in the future.

A personal injury attorney with experience will know how to accurately evaluate your current and future losses to ensure you receive the compensation you need to cover future medical treatment.

Have You Missed Work Due to Your Injuries?

If you were involved in a personal injury accident that caused you to miss several days, weeks, or months from work due to your injuries, you’re entitled to compensation for the income that you would otherwise have earned. An attorney will know how to calculate the compensation you’re entitled to if you missed work and if your injuries permanently prevent you from returning to your job at the level that you were able to perform prior to your injuries.

Did You Experience Pain and Suffering Due to Your Injuries?

The physical pain of your injuries, the stress, and the long recovery process can cause you to suffer anxiety and stress, which can entitle you to compensation for pain and suffering and emotional distress. An attorney can show how pain, anxiety, and stress may have caused you damage.

Has Your Life Changed Due to the Accident or Incident?

A catastrophic injury such as, burn injuries, a traumatic brain injury, or spinal cord injury, can leave you with life-altering changes that are permanent.

A personal injury lawyer can show how your injuries have negatively impacted your life and can build a case for compensation that will cover the cost of medical care, pain and suffering, and other damages.

What Should I Do After an Accident?

After an accident that leaves you injured, there are steps you must take to protect your rights and your insurance claim. Following these steps will put you in the best position to pursue a claim for compensation.

Medical Care

Immediately following an accident, seek medical treatment for your injuries. You should seek medical attention even if you’re not in a lot of pain or don’t think you’ve been seriously injured. Immediate medical treatment will not only improve the prognosis for your recovery but will also help you document your injuries and establish a timeline from the time of the accident to the time you sought treatment for your injuries sustained in the accident. Your medical records and all medical care related to your accident will be used as evidence in your case.

This will help support your claim for compensation and can prevent the insurance company or a defense attorney from claiming that your injuries were sustained after the accident in question took place.

Gather Evidence

Next, gather as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident. If you were involved in an auto accident, take photos of the damage done to all vehicles involved, your injuries, weather conditions, debris in the road, missing traffic signs, or broken traffic lights. Take these photos from a variety of angles.

Accident scenes are often cleaned up quickly, which means valuable evidence can be lost forever.

Do Not Make a Statement

Avoid making a statement to investigators or the insurance company for the party responsible for your injuries. You should also avoid signing any documents or verbally agreeing to a settlement without first talking to a personal injury lawyer. Defense attorneys and insurance companies will try to use your statement against you to argue that you’re not entitled to the compensation you deserve.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

When you’re injured in an accident that’s not your fault, you’re entitled to seek compensation to cover all of your losses, including your injuries, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. Having legal representation can ensure you receive every penny of compensation you deserve.

Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Attorney

If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses and any other accident-related costs. While you are not required to contact an attorney by law, there are many reasons you should.

An Attorney Will Be Objective and Professional

If you’ve been injured in an accident, the injuries you sustained can cause a lot of emotional upheaval and pain. This trauma can make it challenging to make objective decisions as far as your injuries and the accident is concerned. An attorney will file a claim on your behalf. They will also bring their years of experience, skills, and knowledge to your case, which will help you get the compensation you deserve.

They Have Skills and Experience Negotiating with Insurance Companies and Defense Attorneys

After an accident has taken place and a claim has been filed, the negligent party’s insurance company will contact the personal injury victim. A claims adjuster handles personal injury claims on a daily basis and can be very persuasive when it comes to negotiating for lower compensation. Negotiating with an insurance company can be very draining and frustrating. While some insurance adjusters are friendly, others can be very aggressive and will try to pressure you into accepting their low settlement offer. An attorney from our firm has experience negotiating with insurance companies and will not back down or be intimidated. Hiring one of our attorneys after you’ve been injured will also lead to heftier compensation.

An Attorney Can Help You Make Better Decisions

If you aren’t familiar with the law, filing personal injury claims can seem like a complicated, long legal process. Sometimes, the negligent party will own up to their mistakes and will be willing to compensate you. In those cases, if the compensation they offer you for your injuries and other damages seems adequate, then taking them to court wouldn’t be necessary. An experienced personal injury attorney and their team of experts will analyze your case and unique situation to inform you of your legal options. They can also estimate the value of your case to determine if the compensation the other party is offering is adequate for your situation. Remember, once you accept a settlement for your injuries, you will be unable to pursue legal action in the future, so the personal injury settlement you accept must fully compensate you for your medical expenses and other damages, including lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and long-term medical care.

Faster Financial Compensation

If you don’t have an attorney, you will have to wait until you’ve recovered from your injuries before you seek compensation. This means it can take much longer before you receive your settlement. You should speak with an attorney as soon as possible after your accident. This way, an attorney can file a claim on your behalf as you continue to receive medical care. A qualified attorney will have the experience needed to sidestep any setbacks along the way and help you get the compensation for damages you need.

Much-Needed Peace of Mind

Severe accidents can result in fatalities. In other cases, an accident can cause intense emotional trauma and post-traumatic stress. Following up on a claim as you can recover can be very stressful. Speaking with an attorney as soon as possible after you have been injured can give you much-needed peace of mind. An attorney with experience will handle all of the complicated aspects of a claim, which will allow you to focus on your recovery.

The Negotiation Process

While an attorney investigates your personal injury accident to gather evidence, determine what happened, and prove negligence, the insurance company will be doing the exact same thing. The insurance company will assign a claims adjuster to your case who will gather evidence that’s designed to limit the insurance company’s liability.

At Lem Garcia Law, we prepare every case like we’re taking it to court. This requires us to build a strong case with evidence to prove negligence and legal responsibility. Additionally, we will document your damages, speak with your medical team, and provide proof that supports the value of your claim for the cost of treatments, pain and suffering, long-term medical costs, loss of consortium, and more.

Once an attorney has built a strong case on your behalf, they’ll issue a demand letter to the negligent party’s insurance company.

This letter will include:

• The payout amount your lawyer believes is fair
• An explanation of your losses and expenses
• An overview of the facts of the case

By sending this letter, your lawyer has set the starting point for negotiations. There are a few possible outcomes after sending the letter:

• The insurance company will agree to the settlement amount
• The insurance company will refuse to pay anything
• The insurance company will make a counteroffer

In most cases, insurance adjusters will make a counteroffer, which can kick off many rounds of back and forth settlement offers. If your lawyer is able to reach an agreement that is fair, then a settlement out of court is possible.

If the insurance company refuses, your attorney may advise you to proceed with filing a lawsuit and take your case to court. In some cases, the threat of filing a lawsuit can be enough to convince the insurance company to make a better offer. An insurance company does not want to go to court and face experienced lawyers. A trial will cost the insurance company thousands of dollars in legal costs and they will still end up having to pay out to cover the cost of your injuries.

If we take your case to court, we will guide you through the litigation process and keep you up-to-date regarding the progress of your case and any offers made by the liable party.

Contact Lem Garcia Law Today to Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation

If you were injured in an accident due to the negligence of another party, you need the legal team at Lem Garcia Law on your side. Our attorneys have extensive experience and an excellent track record of success. We will give your case the personal attention it deserves and fight tirelessly for a favorable settlement.

Contact our office today to schedule a no-obligation case review session. We will discuss the facts of your case and what your legal options are. Let the seasoned legal team at Lem Garcia Law handle every aspect of your case, so you can focus on your recovery.